Daveigh Chase, a former child actress who gained early fame as the voice of Lilo in Disney’s 2002 animated hit film “Lilo & Stitch” and also portrayed the nightmarish Samara Morgan in the horror film “The Ring,” died of AIDS, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office revealed Monday.
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Chase, whose legal name is Daveigh Schwallier, died June 16 at age 35 due to AIDS with “chronic polysubstance use” listed as another significant condition possibly contributing to her natural death, according to the medical examiner.
Her boyfriend Roy Hernandez had told TMZ she had meningitis and a blood condition.
Hernandez had created a GoFundMe page prior to the young woman’s death, saying her medical condition had dramatically worsened.
“Daveigh was diagnosed with meningitis and several serious blood infections,” Hernandez wrote on the page. “Her condition has become critical, and the doctors have told me she may not have much time left. All she ever wanted was a place where we could live together, feel safe and be happy. Now, more than ever, I want to give her that sense of home and peace in her final days.”
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He wrote on the page that despite her early success on screen, Chase “faced more than her share of hardship.”
Actress Daveigh Chase arrives at the Nylon Magazine: Summer Music Issue Celebration on Wednesday May 30, 2012 in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Actress Daveigh Chase arrives at the Nylon Magazine: Summer Music Issue Celebration on Wednesday May 30, 2012 in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
HOLLYWOOD – OCTOBER 01: Actress Daveigh Chase arrives at the 8th Annual Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party at Paramount Studios on October 1, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Images)
Actress Daveigh Chase of the HBO series “Big Love” arrives at the HBO post-Emmy Awards party in West Hollywood, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Actress Daveigh Chase, a cast member in the HBO series “Big Love,” arrives at the HBO post-Emmy Awards party in West Hollywood, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Actress Daveigh Chase of the HBO series “Big Love” arrives for the HBO party following the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Actress Daveigh Chase arrives at the premiere of the HBO Series ‘ Entourage,’ Thursday, April 5, 2007, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
Daveigh Chase poses for photographers at The Main Event Red Carpet Lounge in celebration of the 2007 Emmy Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Friday, Sept. 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Actress Daveigh Chase arrives at the 5th Annual TV Guide Emmy Party in Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Actress Daveigh Chase arrives at the game launch for “Need for Speed ProStreet” at Les Deux restaurant in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Actress Daveigh Chase arrives at the game launch for “Need for Speed ProStreet” at Les Deux restaurant in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Actress Daveigh Chase poses on the press line at the launch party for the Samsung Blackjack II mobile phone in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Actress Daveigh Chase poses on the press line at the premiere of “Bra Boys” in Los Angeles on Monday, April 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Actress Daveigh Chase poses on the press line at the Apple Lounge grand opening in West Hollywood, Calif. on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Actress Daveigh Chase arrives to the Breeders’ Cup Winners Circle gala event sponsored by Grey Goose, held at the Hollywood Palladium, featuring a live performance by Maroon 5 and music spun by DJ, Joel Madden in Los Angeles, CA on October 23, 2008 (Dan Steinberg/AP Images for Breeders’ Cup)
Actress Daveigh Chase attends the BlackBerry Storm party held in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Phil McCarten)
Actress Daveigh Chase attends the BlackBerry Storm party held in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Phil McCarten)
Actress Daveigh Chase arrives at the Nylon and MySpace Young Hollywood Issue Party in Los Angeles on Monday, May 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Actress Daveigh Chase arrives at the Maxim Hot 100 party in Santa Monica, Calif. on Wednesday, May 13, 2009. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Daveigh Chase arrives at the Google and T-Mobile party celebrating the launch of Google Music, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – MARCH 24: Actress Daveigh Chase arrives at NYLON Magazine’s 12th Anniversary Issue Party With The Cast of Sucker Punch at Tru Hollywood on March 24, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Images)
HOLLYWOOD – OCTOBER 01: Actress Daveigh Chase arrives at the 8th Annual Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party at Paramount Studios on October 1, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Images)
Actress Daveigh Chase poses on the press line at the “6th Annual Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party” in Los Angeles on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
“After a difficult childhood and a painful falling out with her family, Daveigh was bullied and struggled to find safety and happiness in downtown LA,” Hernandez wrote. “When we met, I promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort she deserved. Together, we found moments of happiness and hope.”
Born in Las Vegas and raised in Oregon, Chase made guest appearances as a child in TV shows including “Charmed,” “ER,” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” She also appeared in the film “Donnie Darko” in 2001, but gained fame as the voice of Lilo in Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch.” Her haunting performance in the horror film “The Ring” earned her an MTV Movie Award for best villain.
She also provided the voice of Chihiro Ogino in the English-language-dubbed version of the Japanese anime film “Spirited Away.” Chase also starred in the HBO drama series “Big Love,” opposite Bill Paxton.
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